A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents - Volume 7, part 1: Ulysses S. Grant

James D. (James Daniel) Richardson

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• Publié par: muchang
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
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• Langue: English
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the Presidents: Ulysses S. Grant, by James D. Richardson
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Title: A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents: Ulysses S. Grant
Author: James D. Richardson
Release Date: July 24, 2004 [EBook #13012]
Language: English
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A COMPILATION OF THE MESSAGES
AND PAPERS OF THE PRESIDENTS
BY JAMES D. RICHARDSON
A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE STATE OF TENNESSEE
VOLUME VII
Prefatory NoteThe election of General Grant to the Presidency by the people of the United States was
another instance illustrating the gratitude of a republic to a successful soldier. But for the
great civil war no one supposes he would ever have been elevated to this exalted post.
His services in that heroic struggle were such as to win the highest encomiums from his
countrymen, and naturally at the first opportunity after the closing of the war when a Chief
Executive was to be chosen they turned their eyes to the most conspicuous figure in that
war and made him President of the United States. This volume, the seventh of the series,
comprises his eight years and the four years of his successor, Mr. Hayes. During this
period of twelve years—that is, from March 4, 1869, to March 4, 1881—the legislation for
the restoration of the Southern States to their original positions in the Union was enacted,
the reunion of the States was perfected, and all sections of the land again given full and
free representation in Congress. Much of the bitterness engendered by the war, and
which had been left alive at its closing, and which was not diminished to any appreciable
extent during President Johnson's term, was largely assuaged during President Grant's
Administration, and under that of President Hayes was further softened and almost
entirely dissipated.
It will be seen that President Grant in his papers dwelt especially upon the duty of
paying the national debt in gold and returning to specie payments; that he urged upon
Congress a proposition to annex Santo Domingo; that during his Administration the
"Quaker Peace Commission" was appointed to deal with the Indians, the fifteenth
amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proclaimed, the treaty of
Washington was negotiated, and, with a subsequent arbitration at Geneva, a settlement
was provided of the difficulties relating to the Alabama claims and the fisheries; that in
1870 and frequently afterwards he urged upon Congress the need of reform in the civil
service. His appeals secured the passage of the law of March 3, 1871, under which he
appointed a civil service commission. This commission framed rules, which were
approved by the President. They provided for open competitive examination, and went
into effect January 1, 1872; and out of these grew the present civil-service rules. One of
his most important papers was the message vetoing the "inflation bill."
The closing months of his public life covered the stormy and exciting period following
the Presidential election of 1876, when the result as between Mr. Tilden and Mr. Hayes
was so long in doubt. There is very little, however, in any Presidential paper of that period
to indicate the great peril to the country and the severe strain to which our institutions
were subjected in that memorable contest.
The Administration of Mr. Hayes, though it began amid exciting scenes and an
unprecedented situation which threatened disasters, was rather marked by moderation
and a sympathy with what he considered true reform. Some of his vetoes are highly
interesting, and indicate independence of character and that he was not always
controlled by mere party politics. One of the most famous and best remembered of his
messages is that vetoing the Bland-Allison Act, which restored the legal-tender quality to
the silver dollar and provided for its limited coinage.
Other papers of interest are his message recommending the resumption of specie
payments; vetoes of a bill to restrict Chinese immigration, of an Army appropriation bill, of
a legislative, executive, and judicial appropriation bill, and of the act known as the
"funding act of 1881." It was during Mr. Hayes's Administration, when the Forty-fifth
Congress met in extraordinary session on March 18, 1879, that for the first time since the
Congress that was chosen with Mr. Buchanan in 1856 the Democratic party was in
control of both Houses.
JAMES D. RICHARDSON,
FEBRUARY 22, 1898.Ulysses S. Grant
March 4, 1869, to March 4, 1877
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was born at Point Pleasant, Clermont County, Ohio, April 27, 1822.
He was of Scotch ancestry, but his family had been American in all its branches for
several generations. Was a descendant of Mathew Grant, who arrived at Dorchester,
Mass., in May, 1630. His father was Jesse R. Grant and his mother Hannah Simpson;
they were married in Clermont County, Ohio, in June, 1821. In the fall of 1823 his parents
removed to Georgetown, the county seat of Brown County, Ohio. Ulysses, the eldest of
six children, spent his boyhood in assisting his father on the farm, which was more
congenial than working in the tannery of which his father was proprietor. From an early
age until 17 years old attended the subscription schools of Georgetown, except during
the winters of 1836-37 and 1838-39, which were spent at schools in Maysville, Ky., and
Ripley, Ohio. In the spring of 1839, at the age of 17, was appointed to a cadetship in the
Military Academy at West Point by Thomas L. Hamer, a Member of Congress, and
entered the Academy July 1, 1839. The name given him at birth was Hiram Ulysses, but
he was always called by his middle name. Mr. Hamer, thinking Ulysses his first name,
and that his middle name was probably that of his mother's family, inserted in the official
appointment the name of Ulysses S. Grant. The officials of the Academy were notified by
Cadet Grant of the error, but they did not feel authorized to correct it, and it was
acquiesced in and became the name by which he was always known. Graduated from
the Academy in 1843, twenty-first in a class of thirty-nine members. Was attached to the
Fourth United States Infantry as brevet second lieutenant July 1, 1843; was appointed
second lieutenant, Seventh Infantry, September 30, 1845, and transferred to the Fourth
Infantry November 15, 1845. During the Mexican War (1846-1848) took part with his
regiment in active service, and was in all the battles fought by Generals Scott and Taylor
except that of Buena Vista. Was brevetted for gallant conduct at the battles of Palo Alto
and Resaca de la Palma, but declined the honor. At the battle of Monterey distinguished
himself by volunteering to run the gantlet and bring ammunition for the troops into the city.
September 8, 1847, was appointed brevet first lieutenant for gallant conduct at Molino del
Rey. Acted as regimental quartermaster April 1, 1847, to July 23, 1848, and from
November 17, 1848, to August 5, 1853. September 13, 1847, was brevetted captain for
gallant conduct at the battle of Chapultepec, and on September 16 was appointed first
lieutenant. At San Cosme was mentioned in special orders by his commanders—
regimental, brigade, and division. After the Mexican War his regiment was sent to
Pascagoula, Miss., and afterwards to Sacketts Harbor, N.Y., and Detroit, Mich. August 22,
1848, married Miss Julia Dent, of St. Louis, Mo. In 1852 his regiment was sent to the
Pacific Coast. August 5, 1853, was appointed captain. Resigned July 31, 1854, and went
to live on a farm near St. Louis, but in 1858 gave up farming on account of his health, and
entered into the real-estate business in St. Louis. In May, 1860, removed to Galena, Ill.,
and became a clerk in his father's store. In April, 1861, after President Lincoln's call for
troops, presided at a public meeting in Galena, which resulted in the organization of a
company of volunteers, which he drilled and accompanied to Springfield, Ill. Wasemployed by Governor Yates in the adjutant-general's office, and appointed mustering
officer. Offered his services to the National Government in a letter written May 24, 1861,
but no answer was ever made to it. June 17, 1861, was appointed colonel of the Twenty-
first Illinois Volunteers, and served until August 7, when he was appointed brigadier-
general of volunteers by the President, his commission to date from May 17, 1861. Was
assigned September 1 to command the District of Southeastern Missouri. September 4
established his headquarters at Cairo, and on the 6th captured Paducah, Ky. February 2,
1862, advanced from Cairo; on the 6th captured Fort Henry, and on the 16th Fort
Donelson. Soon afterwards was made a major-general of volunteers, his commission
dating from February 16. March 4 was relieved from his command and ordered to remain
at Fort Henry, but on the 13th was restored. Commanded at the battle of Shiloh, April 6
and 7, 1862. General H